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Topic:
Sonos has filed to go public....
This thread has 95 replies. Displaying posts 16 through 30.
Post 16 made on Friday July 13, 2018 at 05:50
dunnersfella
Long Time Member
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October 2016
309
It's worth pondering this article...

[Link: blog.bolt.io]
This industry is not getting cheaper and cheaper, we're simply convincing ourselves that we have to push the cheapest option to customers.
#makesonosgreatagain
Post 17 made on Friday July 13, 2018 at 07:32
imt
Long Time Member
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466
On July 13, 2018 at 05:50, dunnersfella said...
It's worth pondering this article...

[Link: blog.bolt.io]

Few issues with the article. One, is that it just does a strict comparison of Sonos to Amazon. Fair points. But, what Sonos has that other's/including Amazon don't is diversification of speech services. Airplay 2 is now active and then Google so it will be the one speaker product that can be used with all the major services.

Second, Sonos can be used with all the music services, unlike every other competitor. Question then is if another voice service will provide access to these other services.

They don't play in the same circles, in terms of price and cost, of Amazon Alexa speakers but Amazon's speakers don't play in the same circles of sound quality. Point three is that they just compare to the Sonos 1. However, Sonos has an extensive line of products for which there is no competition from Amazon. Playbar/Playbase/Beam. Also allow you to connect to regular speakers or receiver with the connect/connect amp. Devices without Alexa built-in can still be controlled via any other Alexa product with a Microphone. Lastly, by opening up the software, the direction they are going is to allow sonos to be an endpoint. So, this opens up all types of possibilities.

Yes they still have high competition and an uphill battle. But, if you look at where Sonos was caught flatfooted to where they are now, they made some strategic plays very quickly. Not saying its a good investment, just that the article didn't explain what IP Sonos brings to the table.
Post 18 made on Friday July 13, 2018 at 14:55
bisgit
Long Time Member
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23
On July 6, 2018 at 21:43, 3PedalMINI said...
Makes no sense why everyone but Sonos has to use “connect”

Bose SoundTouch has always had in-app browsing.
Post 19 made on Sunday July 15, 2018 at 13:58
sceneselect
Long Time Member
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March 2012
425
One glaring issue is the Airplay2 isn't available on some key Sonos components which could spell doom for us integrators.

I don't believe the connect and connect Amp will have airplay2 nor will the PlayBar.
Post 20 made on Sunday July 15, 2018 at 15:34
buzz
Super Member
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May 2003
4,366
Airplay2 is available for ONE, PLAYBASE, PLAY:5 S2, and BEAM. However, older players can be Grouped with an Airplay2 compatible player.
Post 21 made on Sunday July 15, 2018 at 19:41
Mac Burks (39)
Elite Member
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May 2007
17,515
Meh...i have clients that still have component video switches. No 4K for them. Not my fault. Not their fault. Upgrade the switch to get 4K.

I don't know what the entire story is with Airplay2 and Sonos but if something new comes out and the current product doesn't work...the client can live with it or upgrade everything.
Avid Stamp Collector - I really love 39 Cent Stamps
Post 22 made on Wednesday July 18, 2018 at 19:15
g007
Long Time Member
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October 2015
87
To all

My concern for Sonos would be the reliability of the device, does it do what they say. Does Alexa function as we expect it to, or is iffy or worse halfway, which is noway! How about the network aspect of Sonos devices! They are suppose to be the best at this particular niche as it relates to whole house audio! Does the reality bear this out!

I do not own one but I decided to checkout the Sonos site and read the reviews.
Well... out of approximately 3200 reviews of the Sonos voice controlled speaker about 200 said the device would not work. Alexa could not understand the voice commands or failed to respond at all. Worse the units could not stay connected! The reviews seem to say, not ready for prime time. 200 bad reviews does not bode well, 6.25% is way to many, .1% would be more acceptable. These two problems seem to be present with the Play speakers and the Sonos 1.

Anybody have direct experience?
Post 23 made on Wednesday July 18, 2018 at 19:51
3PedalMINI
Loyal Member
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7,860
On July 18, 2018 at 19:15, g007 said...
To all

My concern for Sonos would be the reliability of the device, does it do what they say. Does Alexa function as we expect it to, or is iffy or worse halfway, which is noway! How about the network aspect of Sonos devices! They are suppose to be the best at this particular niche as it relates to whole house audio! Does the reality bear this out!

I do not own one but I decided to checkout the Sonos site and read the reviews.
Well... out of approximately 3200 reviews of the Sonos voice controlled speaker about 200 said the device would not work. Alexa could not understand the voice commands or failed to respond at all. Worse the units could not stay connected! The reviews seem to say, not ready for prime time. 200 bad reviews does not bode well, 6.25% is way to many, .1% would be more acceptable. These two problems seem to be present with the Play speakers and the Sonos 1.

Anybody have direct experience?

Not sure if troll or don’t really understand Sonos?

First of all, people that review things like this based on 3rd parties (Amazon/google) should not be validated. Sonos has no control over Alexa and Google Voice. Those exact concerns are on the amazon branded devices. Alexa works but not great. It’s not sonos’s fault that VC is not ready for prime time.

I’ve sold hundreds of Sonos devices through the years. They have been the only product that fails the least, followed by eero. I’ve got clients with the old branded nomenclature (ZPxx) and working fine
The Bitterness of Poor Quality is Remembered Long after the Sweetness of Price is Forgotten! - Benjamin Franklin
Post 24 made on Wednesday July 18, 2018 at 20:15
radiorhea
Super Member
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May 2002
3,264
Sonos and Zektor product....no failures! Not even one.
Drinking upstream from the herd since 1960
Post 25 made on Thursday July 19, 2018 at 02:43
g007
Long Time Member
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87
3PedalMINI

Not a troll.

They are reviewing the product as it did or did not preform for them, their results are very valid!

Third parties issues are very much a concern of the buyers!

That Sonos incorporated the voice control and most likely paid a license fee to do so, further puts the stamp of approval on the product as far as the customer is concerned. Sonos went out of their way to mention Alexa for a very good reason. If Alexa does not do what people expect it to do, then don't put it in the product. It is Sonos due diligence and testing that's the issue!

It is the 6.5% of products that do not "work fine" that's the issue!
Post 26 made on Thursday July 19, 2018 at 06:49
goldenzrule
Loyal Member
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8,470
I have never, and I do mean NEVER, received a call from a client about a Sonos issue that wasn't user error. I have used Alexa on my Sonos also and it works damn well as long as you stay within the parameters of how it was designed to work. People complain. It's how it goes. Sonos claims something less than 1% failure rate and I do believe it. You have to take into account all factors when looking at online reviews. With a product like Sonos, you are going to see a lot of reviews from diy'ers. These same diy'ers usually look for the cheapest deals and will gladly put a $15 router in to run their whole house. With the today's tech, there are many reasons for a product to not perform to expected levels. In my experience, and my clients experience though, Sonos has been a bulletproof (read, not near bulletproof, but actually zero problem) product
Post 27 made on Thursday July 19, 2018 at 07:18
Ranger Home
Super Member
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3,486
Who trusts reviews particularly on a product sold on retail shelves? Listen to the installers, not some pissed off buyer who thinks their Black Friday Westinghouse 65" is the best thing ever.
Post 28 made on Thursday July 19, 2018 at 14:17
g007
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
October 2015
87
Let me state again, the reviews were hosted on Sonos site, not some retailer site!

Sonos claims of less than 1% failure rate simply do not jive with the results on Sonos site!

If the product was never intended for customer setup, then Sonos should not sell to the retail customer but restrict it to guys. One of Sonos claims is the quick and easy setup the device by the buyer!
Post 29 made on Thursday July 19, 2018 at 16:26
goldenzrule
Loyal Member
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8,470
On July 19, 2018 at 14:17, g007 said...
Let me state again, the reviews were hosted on Sonos site, not some retailer site!

Sonos claims of less than 1% failure rate simply do not jive with the results on Sonos site!

If the product was never intended for customer setup, then Sonos should not sell to the retail customer but restrict it to guys. One of Sonos claims is the quick and easy setup the device by the buyer!

Online reviews do not equal failures. Can't blame Sonos for people's stupidity. The product works, and better then anything else in that category and really anything in the industry. Stop trying to make it into something it is not. Jeez, even Tucker defended Sonos, and he feels the same way about Sonos that Ernie feels about run on sentences.
Post 30 made on Thursday July 19, 2018 at 17:03
diesel
Senior Member
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April 2004
1,177
I too have had zero failures for Sonos. The stuff just works! Very difficult to justify anything else for a broad base of clientele.
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